Tenant trying to get bills paid by landlord

Watson922

Our property is rented to a council tenant, the tenant contacts us directly if they have any problems.

A few months ago they had a pre-pay metre fitted for the heating, this happened without our knowledge and now the tenant keeps contacting us saying the heating isn't working, we have had it checked and it works, but the tenant never puts money on the metre, every time we explain that money must be on the metre for it to work and the company that installed it has also explained this to them, more than once.

Recently the tenant complained to the council that the property is inhabitable because it's too cold, when the council went round to check they said everything looked fine but they couldn't check the heating as there was no money on the metre, they advised us to buy some electric heaters for the tenant.


the bills are to be paid by the tenant as per the tenancy agreement, this has been explained.

Any advice on what to do, the phone calls and messages I get about this are becoming a problem

G_M

* Start charging the tenant for call-outs where there is no fault (ie no cash in the meter!). But write first making clear you will do this so that the tenant has advance warning.

* In the same letter, make clear that you expect the pre-pay meter to be removed at the end of the tenancy, or failing this you will deduct from their deposit any charge to you by the gas supplier for removing it.

* Write some clear instruction for the tenant on how to use the heating system, including the pre-pay meter, and add it to your tenant info folder.

* ignore the council suggestion about electric heaters - so long as the central heating works, it is up to the tenant to pay the bills and keep it working. If the tenant wants electric heaters to use when the gas meter runs out, he can buy himself some electric heaters

ValHaller

G_M wrote: »

* Start charging the tenant for call-outs where there is no fault (ie no cash in the meter!). But write first making clear you will do this so that the tenant has advance warning.

* In the same letter, make clear that you expect the pre-pay meter to be removed at the end of the tenancy, or failing this you will deduct from their deposit any charge to you by the gas supplier for removing it.

* Write some clear instruction for the tenant on how to use the heating system, including the pre-pay meter, and add it to your tenant info folder.

* ignore the council suggestion about electric heaters - so long as the central heating works, it is up to the tenant to pay the bills and keep it working. If the tenant wants electric heaters to use when the gas meter runs out, he can buy himself some electric heaters

And not issue a S21? I think I would be sending the tenant the letter advising of a call out charge and about the meter - and if there was 1 more call out, the S21 would be ready to go.

Watson, have you protected the tenant's deposit and sent the prescribed information?

Guest101

I may be wrong, but often council tenants don't pay the deposit and the council guarantee the return of the property

G_M

Guest101 wrote: »

I may be wrong, but often council tenants don't pay the deposit and the council guarantee the return of the property

You could be right, in which case the OP should write to the council in a similar vein to forewarn them that he expects his property returned without a pre-payment meter,

They'll ignore the letter but at least it will be on file.

keyser666

I would also be concerned if they are not topping it up with the cold weather months about to hit that there might be the possibility of frozen pipes etc etc, so make sure you are covered

Evee2000

Have you considered that it may be the utility company that has installed the meter due to non payment if bills? It may not be so easy to have it removed. You can easily check if the meter has a debt loaded.